Fluid seal



Aug. 17, 1937. A. JOHNSON FLUID SEAL Filed Feb. 15. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ZZOYD A JOf/NJO/V BY ATTORNEYZ.

L. A. JOHNSON FLUID SEAL- Aug. '17, 1937.

Filed Feb. 15, 19:54 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z1070 A. JOl/NJ'O/V I BY M w A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 uurreo STATES-PATENT OFFICE rum) SEAL Lloyd A. Johnson, San Francisco, Calif. Application February 15, 1934, Serial No. 711.421

My invention relates to improvements in unitary fluid sealing structures.

An important object of the inventionis to provides. self-contained, compact, fluid sealing unit with interlocked parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid sealing unit in which the leather or soft portion, which contacts the element being sealed, has its grain running transverse to and not parallel with said element; to provide a fluid sealing unit in which the shaft opening can be punched out to an accurate and uniform shaft size after assembly into the cage portion; to provide a fluid sealing unit which can-resist great,

axial pressures tending to push the leather through the opening; to provide a fluid sealing unit with a novel form of flat, pliable washer in which the sealing rim and only a small portion 'of the washer lying near it is urged into contact J fluid sealing unit with the shaft; and to provide an effective fluid sealing unit which exerts a minimum of braking effect on the shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid or fluid sealing unit in which the spring is securely held in place by the sealing element without the aid of a metal cap or enclosure means; and to provide a fluid sealing unit in which the spring gives to the sealing rim its sealing tension by a certain wedging effect.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

' Fig. 1 is a perspective cross-section view of a embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section view through the center of the fluid sealing unit and showing this unit in its cooperative relationship with tubular housing and shaft, I

Fig. 3 is a perspective cross-section view of a modification of my invention,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section view of another modification of my invention, 7

Fig. 5 is a perspective cross-section view of still another modification of my invention,

Fig, 6 is a perspective sectional view of the Inter-lock washer used-in the structures of Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 10 f my invention,

Fig. 7-15 a cross-section view of of my invention,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view unit of Fig. '7,

a modification of the piston sealing Fig. 9 is a perspective sectional view 01' still another modification of my invention,

Fig. 10 is a perspective cross-section of another modification of my invention, and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-section VIEW of a portion of the device.

The unitary fluid sealing device of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a casing or housing I0, made of sheet metal or other ductile material adapting it to be press-fitted into a housing or other tubular structure ill, to form therewith a leakproof joint and also to seal the shaft I8 against leakage. It is the usual practice to make the outer diameter of the housing I U a few thousandths larger than the inside diameter of the housing I7 into which it fits. The diameters of the two last mentioned pieces, however, may be the same yet a tight fit is secured for the rea-- son that the press-fitting of the unit into the housing I1, will e fiect an expansion of the outside diameter of the cage member ID.

The cage member I0 is adapted to hold within it the leather, or similar fabric, sealing member II. This sealing or washer member II is made of leather, or any other similar material pliable enough to shape itself under the influence of the spring I 5. The member I I must be thick enough to permit the cutting or forming in its front side of an inclined groove Ila .(see Fig. 11) for the spring I5, and also leave sufiicient body to the washer to support the depending portion. The sharp rim III) on the depending portion of the member II effects the sealing,

The inclined surface I I0 and the groove bottom IId provide a V shaped acts between the walls He and Ild of the V groove to contact the rim IIb without materially contracting the ungrooved portion of the washer IIf. Stated in another way, the spring I5, acting in the V slot, swings the depending portion 4() inwardly on a center lying near .the baseof the slot. The effect on the inside sealing surface of the washer is shown in Fig. 11 by the full line, i whereas the dotted lines indicate the position of groove. The spring I5 this surface and the depending portion before the spring I5 is in place and acts in the slot. It is not essential that the converging walls lid and He continue thus, beyond the point where the spring can-possibly reach; that is, the bottom of the slot may terminate at- I la (dotted line) inverse to the axis of the part to be sealed. The

importance of this feature will be realized as the description of my invention progresses.

The outside diameter of the washer member H is about the same as the inside diameter of the '5 cage in, so as to provide a snug fit between these parts. In addition the rim I2, of the cup member H], is spun over on the washer member Ii, to secure it in place. Either before or after the rim i2 is spun over, several spurs 13 are punched out of the rim. These interlock with, or bury themselves in, the body of the washer it, and provide a secure locking of the washer Ii to prevent rotation in the'cage i0.

1 The bottom of the cup is provides the necesl sary backing or support for the washer ii, to enable it to withstand pressures put upon it by the medium being sealed. The central aperture is in the bottom of the cage it is usually made to barely clear the shaft, in order 'to give the maximum support to the washer H. Since the washer member is fiat, the cage can support it practically to where it contacts the shaft itself, hence there is no likelihood of the depending portion or rim lib of the washer being forced through any opening, as happens today with flange leather type seals when used in structures sealing against high pressures.

The sealing surface Hf (see Fig. 11), on the washer H is usually out after it is assembled in the cage l 0. Since this can be done with a punch, or spinning knife; it is possible to have the size very accurate with relation to the movable part it is to seal. The size is usually figured so the non-sealing edge HR: is not in contact with the movable part being sealed.

When used with fractional horsepower motors another feature of the invention becomes impor- I tant, namely, that with the washer opening Hf and Hit accurately determinable and with the so spring 15 urging but a small portion of the washer surface, near lib, against the shaft 98, a minimum braking effect results therefrom. With formed'flange-type leathers, such as are used today, the heavy braking efiect has prevented the as use of these spring tightened fluid sealing devices on low powered mechanisms.

From an examination of Figs. 1 and 2,, it, will be' seen that the structure is capable of being made with a very small axial dimension, thus making it possible, to use'this improved device in small spaces; spaces which have heretofore been scaled only by means which could not employ a spring for tightening the sealing unit about the shaft. Since the structure can be used in very narrow spaces it adapts itself for use in devices with small shaft housings.

In installations where it is not essential to have compactness in the seal in its radial dimension, as is shown in Fig. 3, the seal is made with a metal washer I9, placed on top of the sealing washer i I, before the rim I2 of the cage I0 is spun over to anchor the member 8 I in the cage. The metal washer l9 has spurs 20 which are pressed into the body of the sealing member H. These prevent the member I i from rotating with relation'to the metal washer 19. The latter in turn is anchored to the rim i2 by means of spurs l3, punched out of the rim l2. It is preferable for the front face of the washer II to be supported down to the edge of the groove Ila.

The, liquid sealing structure shown in Fig. 5 differs from Fig. 3 mainly in details of assembly. In Fig. 5 the grooved side of the washer It is placed against the bottom I4 of the cage l0 The 75 metal washer 22 provides the main support in back of the sealing washer Ii. The rim is spun over to securely compress the metalwasher 22 into the sealing member H. In doing so, it buries the spurs 23 into the washer ii, and causes undulations in the rim E2. The cage it, washers ii and 22 thus become interlocked.

A portion of the washer 22 is shown in perspective in Fig. 6. The spurs 23 are bent out of the plane of the metal washer 22 to a greater degree than the spurs 26. The spurs 23 bury themselves in the back of the sealing member Ii, whereas the spurs 2d are in a metal to metal contact with the spun over rim 5? of the cage 10. Suflicient of the rim i2 is pressed down between these spurs 28 to securely anchor the metal washer 22 against rotation, should the sealing member ii shrink for any reason, such as, climatic changes.

The same principies of sealing, heretofore explained in. connection with shaft or red sealing apply in the sealing of cylinders or internal surfaces. Fig. 11 is common to both, and Figs. 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the structural changes when sealing internal surfaces. In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 the spring 55 is a contracting type, whereas in Figs. 4., 7, 8, 9 and 10 the spring iii is an expanding type. In Fig. 11 the spring may be either. The groove li'a slopes toward the surface being sealed. I

In Fig. 10 the cage it! has its bottom flange id pointing outwardly. This particular sealing structure takes a considerable end thrust and the cage bottom id is strengthened by the washer 2d. Washer 29 also supports the sealing washer ii practically to its outer edge. The parts 29 and M are held in the cage iii, by spinning over the rim l2, and are held against rotation by spurs it? in said rim.

In Fig. 4, a structure like Fig. 10 is shown installed with a clutch shifting thrust bearing 89. The sealing structure cage It? is fitted around the movable collar 61 in a leak-proof joint. The shaft t l passes through an opening 63 in the oilfilled engine crank case 62. To retain oil in the case it is necessary to. seal the opening 63 and this is accomplished by the sealing member ii and its parts already fully described (see Fig. 11).

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate an assembled, unitary piston head structure adapted for simplification in the manufacture and assembly of pumping devices. It comprises the sealing member H, with its groove Ma, and spring l5, assembled in a sheet metal piston head 34. The latter is shaped to provide a cylindrical wall 32 and a radial wall 33. It also has an opening thru which the piston rod 35 extends and to which it is secured by the nut 38. The sealing member it is held on the wall 33, in fluid tight engagement, by the. cup member 35, 37. The cylindrical wall 31 of this cup member is made of smaller diameter than the wall 32, so as to necessitate the use of a press in assembling these parts. .Also the wall 31 terminates short of the bottom to insure a firm compressing of the sealing member between the walls 38 and 35.

Fig. 9 is-another type of bolted-on structure, in this instance shown for outside sealing. It comprises thecage member 50, with a flat portion 5| having a series of openings 52, by which it is bolted in place; and a cylindrical portion 53, and a ledge portion 55. 'Sealed on the ledge portion 56 is the sealing unit H. This unit is secured in fluid tight engagement with the ledge 54 by means of an L shape cup member 55. The cup 55 also is forced into fluid tight engagement with the cylindrical wall 53 of the cage member 50. The portion 84 of the cup member is in firm engagement .with the sealing member, and has spurs I, which embed themselves in the sealing unit to prevent it from rotating. This cup member 55. in turn, is secured against rotation in the cage member ii by means of dimples II spaced around the cylindrical portion II of the cage member.

It is to be understood that the forms 01' my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape. size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, orthe scope oi the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

i. A fluid sealing member for use in sealing a movable cylindrical body comprising a thick body portion which in cross 7 section is longer in its 7 radial dimension than in its axial dimension, said 20 body portion having a flexible depending sealing lip formed by cutting a slot in one radial face, the angle of the slot wall forming the top oi said lip being less than a right angle to the moveable body being sealed. the radial wall forming the bottom 01' 25 the slot being at substantially a right angle to the surface being sealed. and the slot wall iorming the top or said slot being substantially parallel with the top of said lip, and a coil spring in said slot, the diameter of its coils being substantially equal to the width 01' said slot whereby said spring cannot seat itself in the bottom of the acute angled crevice formed at the junction of the radial bottomwall ofsaidslotandthewallformingthetop of said lip.

2. A fluid sealing member for use in sealing a I movable cylindrical body comprising a thick body portion which in cross section is longer in its radial dimension than ln'its axial dimension, said body portion having a flexible depending sealing lip formed by cutting a slot in one radial'tace, the angle of the slot wall forming the top of said lip being less than a right angle tothe 'moveable bodybeing sealed,theradialwall forming the bottom of the slot being at substantially a right angle to the surface being sealed, and a coil spring in said slot, the diameter of its coils being greater than said slot at its narrowest point, whereby said spring cannot seat itself in the bottom of the acute angled crevice formed at the junction of the radial bottom wall of said slot and the wall forming the top of said lip.

LLOYD A. J OHNSON. 

